Moving on now to the AL Central. A division which, if we’re being completely honest, just doesn’t excite us like some of the other divisions in baseball. Sure there are some star players and intriguing prospects scattered throughout the division but it might be the smallest collection of such talents in any division in the sport. Still, we’re here to take a look ahead at the 2025 season, find reason for excitement, and give you some of the players we think are good buys in fantasy baseball heading into the year.

Division Dynasty Preview - Prospects Live
Prospects LiveKyle Sonntag

*These notes are only current up to the recording date of the podcast episode (January 11/25)

Chicago White Sox

Lineup (Roster Resource)

C - Kory Lee

1B - Andrew Vaughn

2B - Lenyn Sosa

3B - Josh Rojas / Austin Slater

SS - Brooks Baldwin

LF - Andrew Benintendi

CF - Luis Robert Jr

RF - Mike Tauchman

DH - Miguel Vargas

*Austin Slater will not play 3B - defensive alignment will change but that is the expected platoon offensively

Rotation (Roster Resource)

SP1 - Martin Perez

SP2 - Jonathan Cannon

SP3 - Davis Martin

SP4 - Sean Burke

SP5 - Bryse Wilson

Bullpen (Roster Resource)

CL - Justin Anderson

SU - Fraser Ellard

SU - Prelander Berroa

Projected IL

N/A

Top 5 prospects (Prospects Live Top 500)

1. Noah Schultz

2. Hagen Smith

3. Colson Montgomery

4. Edgar Quero

5. Braden Montgomery

Off-season additions/subtractions

Subtractions

Garrett Crochet

Additions

Martin Perez

Josh Rojas

Mike Tauchman

Bryse Wilson

Quick thoughts

Taylor

It’s a pretty ugly roster. Nothing exciting other than Luis Robert and he’ll likely get moved. Some talent coming but I’m just not very enthused about their long term rebuild.

Kyle

Been making interesting moves, trades in particular

Have been improving as a development system, specifically pitching development

Still at least a couple years away from being even a thorn in the side of the rest of the division

MLB dynasty buy

      Taylor: Bryan Ramos

  • Was a weird year at the plate
  • Started slow in AA with a .284 OPS with a 30% k rate in first 16 G and no power 0 ISO
  • Then got hot and had a 1.056 OPS through his next 8 games
  • Then got called up and held his own through 10 games with a .281 average and 8.8%K rate, but with only a .638 due to lack of walks (2.9%) and power (.063)
  • Then missed some time due to a quad injury
  • Came back and went 0-14 with 5 Ks
  • Was sent to Triple-A where he struggled to hit for much power with just a .625 OPS and 2 HR in his first 39 games there
  • Then something clicked in August
  • From August 1st on (25 games at AAA) he had a .949 OPS and a .240 ISO
  • Raised his walk rate to 11.4% (407 OBP)
  • Gets called to the big leagues and shows that same patience (10% walk) and power (.208 ISO) that he showed in August
  • EVs, bat speed, and HH was good
  • Randomly had an 86% sprint speed and he stole 8 bases in 88 minors games
  • Doesn’t chase or strikeout a lot either.
  • Could be a big riser this spring if he wins a job out of ST but might be hard with Rojas and Vargas thereKyle: Sean Burke
  • 19 IP big league debut in 2024
  • 1.42 ERA, near 30% K% but relative lack of success in the minors could lead people to believe the big league success was a small sample thing
  • Dropped BB% from 13% in AAA to 9% in MLB
  • Automated strike zone, challenges, etc. have made it more and more common for pitchers BB% to improve in the majors
  • Numbers will surprise a lot of people if he maintains sub 10% BB% in 2025
  • Plenty of runway in CHW rotation

MiLB dynasty buy

Taylor: Grant Taylor

  • 2023 2nd round pick
  • Really exciting arsenal
  • Plus fastball
  • Also has an above average curveball
  • Slider and Cutter grade out as at least average with grades as high as 55 and 60 respectively
  • Changeup underwent development in AFL and now looks like a potential above average pitch according to baseball america
  • So we have have potentially 5 above average to plus pitches
  • Gets dinged for his command but had just a 2.8% walk rate last season to go with a 44.4% K rate between CPX and A ball
  • Just 19.1 innings and that is the issue
  • Was recovering from TJ when he was drafted
  • Made just 5 abbreviated starts of no more than 4 innings and then missed the rest of the season with a lat injury
  • Did pitch 4 outings in the AFL (just 7.2 IP) but struggled with a 9.39 ERA giving up 7 walks and two home runs. Also Ked 13.
  • Risky but lots of upside and can be had for cheap

Kyle: Hagen Smith

  • Don’t think he’s the 2 to Chase Burns’ 1, he’s the 1B to Burns’ 1A in this FYPD class
  • Burns is more conventional but not much separates their stuff/command
  • Funky windup, CHW landing spot push him down a bit
  • Up to 100 mph with wipeout slider
  • 48.6% K% in college is absurd